Walking figure toy



June 16, 1953 J. VILLEMEJANE WALKING FIGURE TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 19, 1948 Fig.2

Fig. 1

. ZZZ/U ell/601 VILLEMEJ'ANE FIGURE TOY 4 Sheet -s 2 Filed April 19,1948 June 16, 1953 J. VILLEMEJANE WALKING FIGURE TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed April 19, 1948 June 16, 1953 J. VILLEMEJANE WALKING FIGURE TOY 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 19. 1948 FIG. 19

. yl/blizzz Patented June 16, 1953 one-lialf to'Gompa'gnie du'Celluloid'Petitcollin- Oyonnithe, Paris, France, =a corporation of 7 France Aplication A fi1l19, 194s, SerialNo; 21,95 'In"France May .5, 7194 7 1This invention relates toan' animated-toy, doll orautomaton onftwo feet,of the" type inwhich ""a double "oscillating movementinopposite'directionsabout a common axis bymeansof ia-motor "operates thetwo feetthrough a plurality of links and a crankshaft having crank; pinsopposed by "-180" for -alternately moving each'leg. 7

One object of the invention is to"provide an animatedtoyboth feet ofwhich will constantly remain in contactwiththe surfacesuppOrting the toyduring the alternate'moveinentgof:the two'feet. g v

' Another object is to 'obtaina movement or the arms of the toy or dollconnected with the'rnovement-of the feet, and @1150 a rotation of thehead anda movement'of the lower jaw.

Another object is to obtain bending of the knees and'al'soof'the-elbows. V v

-A"sti1l furtherobject is "to obtain'a turning movement of the feet'on'the supporting surface. With these objects in view and others whichfore-arm,

connection of'the arms with their; oscillating Figure 14 shows means'formoving the lower. 7

jawof the head,

."Figure15 is a' 'plan viewfrom below of afoot :provided'for a'turningmovement controlledby --Will=appear hereafter, the feet of the "animatedtoy I are providedwith rollers which rest "onithe "supporting surfaceand enable each foot,by the oscillating movement of arodytoa'dva ncealter- .natelywhile the otherfoot rests 'onsai'd surface withoutsliding, thus securing a steady walk of the animated toy'asboth feet"arealwaysin-con v second rod forces the-other foot'torema'inincon- *tactwith thesupporting surface;

'Inthe accompanying drawings which illustrate diagrammatically, by'wayofexample, various the arm ofthe'toy, I Figure 16 is-a longitudinal Viewof the 'foot y partly in section, the fore rollers being in the straightposition, v

Figure 17 is a plan view from"below of a-foot =having= a guidedturningmovement,

Figure '18 is an axial' section of --a "device for "regulating the"speed'of the motor,

Figure 19*is a general view ofa-toy operated =as in Figure 15.

Referring to Figures 1- and 2, the rods "I attached to 'eaoh "fo0t"2pivot at their upper ends :orra pin 3 fixed to the body of the toyrepresenting an animated figure or to the motor l 'of any "type, whichis shown'in Figure 2 -=as --a-spr-ingoperatedmotor. "The rod lisformedwithan elongated slot 4 intd-which is engaged acrank pin- 5 of acrankshaft sf the other crank pin 'of which is opposed by 180 to theformer :crank generally comprise' a simplespiral spring. "According tothelinvention, eachfoOt-Z bears, by ineansofa spindle fl, one or=morero11ers 8 -which may be hidden within the soles of the feet;generally under the heel.

"embodiments of F the invention, the oontours of I the "animated'toybeing outlined around the mechanism: V

Figure l'is-a side view and Ffigure 2 a'front 'view ofthemechanism'comp'rised of oscillating -rods,

Figures 3 and 41ajre side and frontviews, vrespectively, of anembodiment having two rods for each foot,

When the motor turnsjthe orankpiri 5 moves the rod I '-forward, :1 thelatterpivoting "about the pin 3. Theroller 8 rolls; on thebearingsurface the fOot- Z moving forward; while' -the other footFigures 5 and fi are'side fland front views, re-

spectively, of a modified'form'for bending the knees,

Figure '7 shows a detail view 'ofajmodi'fied form of the crank pinsoperating the rods,

Figure 8 shows amodified form or the .sole of Figure 11"representsfamodified form "of. 'the rests on the bearing surface owing to theweight-or "the'toy, without sliding, thus allowing the -'bo'dy-efthe-toy}to'-move forward. Whenthefirst "foot =2 has ceased advancing,the ether foot is "themselves, but in 'general it is preferred tohave aniechanismi'distinct from the "body that "sur- "roundsit. v

'Lateralstea-diness is perfect as therods v I are of the same length andboth feet? are always in contact with 't'hebearing surface. Proper'longitudinal steadiness is "due 'to "the broad area f formed bythe twofeetjenabling .the .toy to" make L big steps without'anypther' fulcrum.

The rollers 8 and the soles may be coated with rubber or any othermaterial so as to afford good adherence and compensate for unevenness ofthe bearing surface.

Turning to Figs. 3 and 4 illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention, the body of the toy figure carries a power unit I, say aclockwork that transmits its energy through a gearwork to a horizontalcrank shaft 6 the crank pins of which control respectively the upperends of two connecting links Id arranged longitudinally of each leg ofthe toy figure. Said links that are provided each with a longitudinalslot 12 are guided by a common elongated horizontal pivot ll engagingthe two slots I2. Said connecting links or rods are associated in eachleg with a substantially parallel link or rod I pivotally securedthrough its upper ends to a pivot 3 rigid with the toy body while thelower ends of the rods i, ii! of each leg are pivotally securedrespectively at i3 and at M with a foot member 2.

It is thus apparent that the elongated pivot ll forms a bearing memberthrough which the body and driving unit are held in stable equilibriumconditions on the two leg links ID that are always at an angle with oneanother; each driving link I8 when urged forwardly b the crankshaftconstrains the correspondin foot 2 to slide or roll over the groundthrough the I reduced contact surface provided by the roller 8 carriedby the rear pivoting axis 54 thereon while the front of said foot israised. The friction between said forwardly projected foot and theground is much less than that exerted by the other foot 2 bearingthroughout its length on the ground. When one foot 2 has thus advancedby one step, the forward movement of the whole toy constrains it to bearin its turn on the ground throughout its length and at this moment the fdriving link Iii, that is then to the rear, raises the rear foot 2 whichis gradually urged forwards. These combined movements stimulate a humangait without requiring any external bearing points.

If bending of the knees be desired, the two rods l and Ill (Figures 5and 6) may be pivoted to the knee instead of being pivoted to the foot.The rod in is connected to the knee by the spindle I3, and the rod Ipivots on a spindle l5 carried 5 by the knee, the leg being integralwith the foot. The roller 8 is supported at the forward portion of thefoot by a spindle 9.

The rollers may be provided with a free or unidirectional wheel (notshown in Figures 5 and 6, but such as shown in Figure 16). The foot isthus better held on the bearing surface during forward walking andcannot slide backwards.

The crankshaft 6 (Figure '7) may be made movable sidewise of the bodyalong its axis. In such case, the crank pins 5, instead of being atright angles, are inclined to the axis of the crankshaft. It followsthat by displacement along the axis, the crank pins being. moved fromthe position in full lines to the position'in dotted lines, the rods lor [9 are raised by variable and unequal lengths of the crank pins, andthe two feet are given different displacements which cause the toy toturn at will on a larger or shorter radius in either direction.

If it be desired to cause the animated toy to dance or pivot on its ownbody, a rotatable roller I6 (Figure 8) is provided at the center of thesole. Said roller is operated by the motor by oscillation of the arm I8.

means of any gearing of variable length, constituted by a stem I! havinga Cardan joint or ball joint or by a Bowden cable. It is thus possibleto cause the toy to turn and pivot on one foot or successively on eitherfoot.

Movement of the arms I8 of the toy (Figures 9 and 10) may be obtained byattaching the arms to either of rods I. It may be obtained by means of asecond crankshaft [9 (Figure 10) connected with the arm I8 and supportedon the motor 1. The crankshaft I9 engages a second slot 20 in the rodl0, so that the crank pin 2| reciprocates on the axis of the crankshaft[9.

In the case of Figure 11, the crankshaft 19 rotates a tube 22 guidedwithin an outer tube 23. The inner tube 22 rotates the arm l8 of thetoy, so that oscillation of the crankshaft I 9 causes Oscillation may bemade resilient by connecting the crankshaft [9 with the arm IS through aspring or a rubber strip 24, provided at its other end with a cup 25carrying along by friction another cup 26, borne by the arm l8. Suchresilient connection allows the position of the arm to be modified inrespect of the body of the toy independently of the oscillation of thearm.

If it be desired to obtain a movement of the fore-arm irrespective ofthe movement of the whole arm, the above-described mechanism of the arm,instead of being connected to the arm l8 itself, may be connected to a'rod 21 (Figure 12) integral with the arm. Another rod 28 oscillatingabout a pin 29 is pivoted by a pin 30 to a rod 3| which is pivoted tothe rod 21 of the arm. During oscillation of the rod 21, the fore-armwill thus oscillate in respect of the arm 18.

Movement of the head may be obtained by means of a lever 32 (Figure 13)operated by one of the rods operating the legs. Said lever 32 pivotsabout the axis of a stem 33 integral with the head of the toy. The headmay be guided by means of co-aXial cylinders 34, 35 which form the neckof the doll. The head will thus turn to the right and the left.

Movement of the lower jaw (Figure 14) may be obtained, to imitate aperson talking, b means of a stem 36 operated by a crankshaft 37, thecrank pin 38 of which engages a slot in the rod ID or the rod I.

In the case of Figures 15,116 and 19, the foot 2 of the toy bears twopairs of rollers 40, 4| each pair being mounted on a common spindle. Theforward pair 4! is provided with a free or unidirectional wheel formed,for example, of an eccentric segment 42 (Figure 16) which allows therollers 4| to turn freely when moving forward but prevent them fromturning backward. This device thus enables the foot to advance rapidlywithout being liable to slide backwards.

The forward pair of rollers i3! 'is adapted to be given an anglevariable with the direction in which the foot advances. To this purpose,their common spindle is integral with. a lever 43 con nected, to anysuitable gearing, shown, for example, as a Bowden cable M. The lattermay be, more particularly, connected to the operating mechanism of thearm I8 (Figure 19) such as described hereabove, so that the movement ofthe arm gives the pleasant result of causing the toy to turn. The changeof angle of the rollers 4| may also be effected by telecontrol.

According to Figure 17, the rear rollers 2-2 have their spindleperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the foot. The two forwardrollers 4 l are mounted on two separate spindles which convergerearwardly, preferably towards a point 45 situated on the common axis ofthe rear rollers 4%. The foot 2 of the toy leans against a rim 46 formedon the table or other surface on which the toy walks. The foot ispreferably provided with a ball 41 for facilitating its sliding inrespect of the rim 46.

The foot placed forward being raised at its fore part and leaningagainst the curved rim 4B, imparts turning movement to the toy, whilethe foot placed at the rear resting on the supporting surface advanceson its fore rollers 4-1 and pivots about the point 45.

If it be desired to vary the speed of the toy, the speed of its motormay be modrfiedby any suitable means. For example, the arm E8 or anypart of its mechanism, such as the stem 21 (Figure 19) may be connectedto a lever 45 resting on a plate 49 integral with the shaft 50 of themotor (such as 7 shown in Figures 1 and 2). By drawing the end of thelever 48 away from the plate 39 to the position shown in dotted lines inFigure 18, the speed of the motor is increased since the friction onplate 42 is released, and consequently the toy will walk faster. But asthe masses are thrown further away from their shaft, due to the increaseof centrifugal force, and as they carry the plate 49 to the left, theplate is again brought into contact with the lever 48, which causesslackening of the motor, until a steady position is attained. If themotor should be given a lower speed, or even stopped, the lever will bepressed more strongly against plate 29.

In all the devices described the motor ma be an electric motor to whichcurrent may be supplied by contacts placed below the feet. The toy mayalso bear accumulators or primary cells, pref erably in its feet so asto increase steadiness. A clockwork may also be employed. The toy may beoperated by telecontrol efiected by contacts or by radio-transmission.The different mechanisms may be varied or combined with other deviceswithout departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A walking doll which comprises, in combination, a body, two feet, therear part of the sole of each of these feet being arranged to opposeless friction than the front part thereof to longitudinal running on thefloor, two rods journalled to said feet about respective transverse axeslocated in the rear portions of said feet, said rods extend ing upwardlyand being both pivoted to said body about a common transverse pivotaxis, two rods pivoted to said feet about respective transverse axeslocated ahead of the above mentioned axes,

6 of said feet about a transverse axis forming the rear end of the soleof each of said feet, two rods journalled to said feet about the axes ofsaid rollers respectively, said rods extending upwardly and being bothpivoted to said body about a common transverse axis, two rods pivoted tosaid feet about respective transverse axes located ahead of the axes ofsaid rollers, said last mentioned rods extending upwardly, a transversespindle carried by said body parallel to said pivot axis and locatedahead thereof, the two last mentioned rods being provided withlongitudinal guiding slots, respectively, said transverse spindleslidsaid last mentioned rods extending upwardly,a

2. A walking doll which comprises, in combina- 7 tion, a body, two feet,the front part at the sole of each of these feet being frictionallyslidable on the floor, at least one roller journalled in each ablyengaging said slots, a crankshaft journalled in said body about atransverse line located above said transverse spindle and having crankpins at to each other, said crank pins being journalled in the upperparts of the two second mentioned rods respectively, and motor meanscarried by said body for rotating said crankshaft.

3. A walking doll according to claim 2 in which said crank pins areoblique with respect to said crankshaft and said crankshaft is slidabletransversely with respect to said body for adjustment therein.

4. A walking doll according to claim 2 further including arms movablewith respect to said body and operatively connected with the two secondmentioned rods, respectively.

5. A walking roll according to claim 2 in which each foot includestworollers journalled therein about the same transverse axis, to form therear end of the sole of said foot, said two rollers being locatedrespectively on either side of the longitudinal axis of said foot, eachfoot further including, in the front part thereof, two rollersjournalled therein about respective axes oblique with respect to saidlongitudinal axis and converging toward the intersection of saidlongitudi nal axis with the common axis of rotation of the two firstmentioned rollers, said two front rollers forming the front end of thesole of the foot.

6. A walking doll according to claim 2 in which each foot includes tworollers journalled therein about the same transverse axis, to form therear end of the sole of said foot, said two rollers being locatedrespectively on either side of the longitudinal axis of said foot, eachfoot further including, in the front part thereof, two rollersjournalled therein about respective axes oblique with respect to saidlongitudinal axis and converging toward the intersection of saidlongitudinal axis with the common axis of rotation of the twofirstmentioned rollers, said two front rollers forming the front end of thesole of the foot, and a ball journalled in said foot and projecting fromthe outer side of the front thereof.

JACQUES JANE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,209,920 Young Dec. 26, 1916 1,687,675 Lehmann Oct. 16, 19282,155,002 Villeme ane Apr. 18, 1939 2,243,043 Walter May 20, 1941FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,002 Great Britain Aug. 22, 1905587,872 Germany Nov. 9, 1933 664,173 Germany Aug. 22, 1938

